In Volunteer Services, we strive to make every day more colorful and fun for patients and families. Thanks to those of you who brought in Halloween candy for our families!

Exciting Transition Announcement

As many of you may know, Volunteer Services has been part of Patient Care Services, which included many departments and services such as Nursing, clinical services, Clinical Nutrition, Social Work, Child Life, as well as support services such as Interpreter Services and Patient Family-Centered Care.

Going forward, a new organizational structure has been unveiled. This includes hiring a Chief Nursing Officer who will solely direct Nursing. The remaining Patient Care Services departments have been reassigned under existing service groups and leadership. This change creates an organizational structure that fosters collaboration, communication and efficiency. This move better aligns these teams to create simplified work practices, increase professional development, eliminate duplication of effort and provide optimal patient experience.

We are pleased to announce that Patient Family-Centered Care has moved to Volunteer Services. And Volunteer Services now reports to Patient Experience Officer Janice English.

Our new name better reflects who we are—we are now Family, Guest and Volunteer Services.

The Family, Guest and Volunteer Services Team:

Staff Transitions and Changes

Welcome to new staff member, Patient Family-Centered Care Coordinator Natassha Bowles. Natassha has been with St. Jude since 2012 as the assistant coordinator for Patient Family-Centered Care. Natassha holds a master's degree in business management. (Read more about Natassha in her staff spotlight below.)

And congratulations to Brittany Barnett on her promotion to manager of Patient Family-Centered Care. Brittany has worked as the parent mentor coordinator since 2014 and will use her excellent administration and leadership in her new role.

Patient Care Services Annual Report

The Patient Care Services Annual Report featured both our Ready Runner and our Kay Kafe Companion volunteer programs. To find out more about the two programs that were highlighted, click on the link below.

Day of Remembrance

Thank you to those who volunteered at the annual Day of Remembrance in October. All of our volunteers played an important role in welcoming past patient families back.

A Visit from Arkansas State University

Manager of Volunteer Services Tricia Spence (pictured far right) recently welcomed a group of MBA Leadership students from Arkansas State University, led by Karen McDaniel, PhD. As part of preparation for their visit, many of the students assembled holiday-themed craft bags for the Happy Cart volunteers to distribute.

Program Highlight: Imagine Room

A small reception was recently held to recognize and thank the Imagine Room volunteers. Since March, these volunteers have led events each Monday and Wednesday evening in the Imagine Room. Patients who are on inpatient units and their families look forward to fun, themed events and activities in the room. These events include arts and crafts, playing video and board games and watching great movies.

St. Jude Volunteer Services staff members and volunteers who attended the luncheon at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital included (left to right) Volunteer Services Manager Tricia Spence, Helping Hands Volunteer Valerie Cox, Child Life Playroom Volunteer and Auxiliary member Pat Canale, Beverage Cart Volunteer Jennifer Weeks, and Volunteer & Special Events Coordinator Maggie Kutteh.

Directors of Volunteers in Agencies (DOVIA) Luncheon

Memphis DOVIA offers a forum for discussing issues and reaching solutions within the field of volunteer resource management. Members of this organization are volunteer managers from various non-profits from the Mid-South and Memphis area. Memphis DOVIA held an appreciation luncheon in November for members to celebrate International Volunteer Manager’s day. Members were encouraged to bring volunteers and senior leadership from their organizations.

Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month in Review

September was Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
Thank you to all who participated in making the month a success. Here are a few highlights:

Three dinners/activities hosted at the housing facilities and staffed with St. Jude employee volunteers.
Three days of inpatient parent massages offered for FREE.
Three days of patient and family crafting activities hosted by the Ladies of St. Jude and St. Jude employee volunteers. Happy carts provided the same crafts for inpatients, and cookie decorating kits were delivered to inpatients based on daily census numbers.
“Story time” for inpatients and outpatients provided by St. Jude Volunteer Services.
Special burgundy and gold lighting in the community provided at Memphis International Airport (entire month) and the Harahan Bridge (2 nights).

Congratulations, Brittany!

Congratulations to staff member Brittany Barnett and her husband, JB, on the birth of their son, William Thomas Barnett, born November 21. Brittany is on maternity leave and should return in February.

Staff Spotlight: Natassha Bowles

Greetings!

I am Natassha Bowles and I am the current coordinator for Family Centered Care. I am a native Memphian, but I do not bleed blue! Ha! In fact, I bleed orange! I am a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Go Vols! I was involved in many activities, but during my time at UT I was privileged to join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I have earned my BS degree in exercise science, a master's degree in business management and a certificate in project management. In my spare time, I enjoy trying new recipes, doing community service and planning events. I have been married to my fabulous husband for three years.

Since 2012 I have been a part of the St. Jude family as the assistant coordinator for the Patient Family-Centered Care program. Prior to joining St. Jude, I was the sales and marketing assistant for Coventry Health Care Inc. I gained experience as a volunteer coordinator while employed at Caris Healthcare. There, I was responsible for the recruitment, training and organization of the volunteers in seven counties.

I am very much looking forward to working with the Volunteer Services team. When you come in, feel free to stop by and say, “Hi."

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